“Oh, I am autistic - and that explains sooooo much and reveals so much about me and my life!”

Have you found out that you are autistic - and you were already a counsellor or psychotherapist, (or still in training, but seeing clients).

Do you agree that when a counsellor or psychotherapist, trained to guide others through the complexities of the human experience, discovers that they themselves are autistic, it sets in motion a profound journey of self-discovery and reevaluation?

And can you relate to this personally?

Would you say that having this realisation coming when you’ve already lived quite a long time already, can be both transformative and challenging for any adult? 

Have you taken stock of what is involved for adults?

As therapists, we are well aware of the profound impact that the journey of self-discovery can have on an autistic adult's selfhood and on their life choices and relationships. The work of piecing everything together, processing huge realisations and feelings, finding and embracing authenticity, gaining supports and strategies, and navigating the challenges of the world is not an easy one, but it is a journey that holds the potential for tremendous growth, resilience, transformation and a better experience of life.

Could realisations and re-evaluations be two-fold for therapists? We have our own personhood…

For a therapist, the process of discovering and embracing their autistic self is intimately intertwined with their role as a mental health professional as it requires the therapist to navigate not only the personal implications of their newfound identity but also the professional consequences and responsibilities that come with it. The journey of self-discovery forces them to see the systemic barriers that autistic individuals face within the mental health field and in society at large, and also eventually forces them to confront the gaps in their own professional training and the limitations of the therapeutic approaches not designed for autistic people. We have a unique responsibility to create safe and welcoming spaces for neurodivergent individuals, to listen to and amplify their voices, and to work towards dismantling the systemic barriers that perpetuate stigma and marginalisation and that weight can be heavy to carry while we are also doing our own emotionally impactful work that can sometimes send us reeling. We are but one person, after all. 

And the impact of the harms to autistic people….

For relatively newly identifying autistic therapists, the path forward involves self-reflection, discoveries, realisations, realignments, fights for self-advocacy, and learning, learning, learning. While we want to speak out and have the courage to challenge the status quo, to push for more inclusive and neurodiversity-affirming practices within the mental health field, and to serve as a role model and advocate for the autistic community, we are also a person who can be overwhelmed, hurt, enraged, traumatised and very very tired. We can be fired up, hyper-focused, or floored, all within the same week. We want to right the wrongs and give every autistic client the responsiveness and validation that they deserve.

And we are humans, and we are impacted….

And we may hear client stories that may ignite personal insights or trigger trauma responses and we worry about how strong we are, muse over at what point secondary trauma may become unethical, marvel at our therapeutic ability, and yet sometimes even doubt we are good enough. But we can see in our client's faces that we are very much needed. And, at the same time, the rent still needs paying, the neighbour still expects a smile, the dog still needs to go to the vet, and you still have to remain a reasonable human being to loved ones when you might be crushed or confused inside. 

Colleagues gathering to listen, talk and relate

In this workshop, there will be a short presentation about the process of late identification in autistic adults. And then we can interact, share experiences and explore. We could talk about anything that comes to mind for you related to the emotional impact of late identification, the challenges of navigating professional relationships and responsibilities, and the importance of self-advocacy and community support. Some of us might want to say things about our views on some of the complexities - such as the interplay of personal identity, professional practice, and societal attitudes that shape the journey of an autistic person. Others may want to feel at home in the space we shape the journey of an autistic therapist who is travelling along realisations and meaning-making - while also keeping it all together in life and work.

It will be nice to meet, to speak, to listen, with you, and to feel connected, supported, empowered, and celebrated.